newtown united methodist church and where a lot of the media are camped out. there's the church behind me. it's been opened now for 24 hours. it's going to be open more 24 hours for as long as they need it here. some of the members of that church died and anyone who wants to come by and pay their respects to the people who died, anyone who needs help from this church, they can come here and get it. after this shooting inside sandy hook elementary school, the safety issue will now be front and center at schools across the country. do classrooms need to be changed into panic rooms or as i've been saying earlier, can we make classrooms into mini prisons? it seems like what we may have to make our schools in order to be safe. i want to bring in lou palumbo. some schools already have roaming officers, metal detectors, officers roaming the hallways. what can we do to make our schools safer? do we need all of these measures in place? >> well, apparently based on this incident that took place up here yesterday, i guess you could support that argument. it's just unfortunate to think that we're goi

the newtown united methodist church and where a lot of the media are camped out. they give preschool classes, ages two to six, sadly some of those kids have died there's the church behind me. it's been opened now for 24 hours. it's going to be open 24 hours for as long as they need it here. some of the members of that church died and anyone who wants to come by and pay their respects to the people who died, anyone who needs help from this church, they can come here and get it. after this shooting inside sandy hook elementary school, the safety issue will now be front and center at schools across the country. do classrooms need to be changed into panic rooms or as i've been saying earlier, can we make classrooms into mini prisons? it seems like what we may have to make our schools in order to be safe. i want to bring in lou palumbo. he is a former police officer and now the director of a lead intelligence based security firm some schools already have roaming officers, metal detectors, officers roaming the hallways. what can we do to make our schools safer? do we need all of these meas

. we also want to pass this along. the united way has set up a sandy hook school fund. donations, as you can see right there on your screen, donations sent to the newtown savings bank 39 main street right here in newtown, connecticut. this fund will be used to help pay for the funerals of the victims, john. >>> police say they have found important evidence during their searches at the school and at the shooter's home. we also know now more about the actual shooting and what weapons were used in it. cnn national correspondent susan candiotti joins me now and, susan, what are we learning this morning? >> hi, john. well, we know one thing and that is that federal agents and other investigators who will be back out pounding out the streets today, chasing down leads, information they have that the suspected shooter in this case may have visited gun stores or gun ranges in the days before the attack. however, so far our sources tell us that those tips have not panned out. we also know that three additional guns have been found, according to our sources, at the home that the shooter shared

situation under control. he knows. >> can you tell me a little bit about newtown, the size and proximity to what other people in the united states might gleam from it, if you can give us a description of your town? >> it's a small town, very large square miles but low population. it's a very quiet town. great sense of community and the schools are very highly rated. >> all right. i want to just ask you to stand by, if you will. my colleague, jason carroll, has been collecting more information. >> i think we have more information that may be important for parent. we're told that there is a staging area sort of i am prom tea being set up at village restaurant and pizza. apparently the parking lot there. the school is just over the hill from that location, just about a five-minute walk away from there and apparently a number of parents are gathered there trying to get information. that's being set up as some sort of informal staging area for parents trying to get information about their children about what is happening there and they are doing what they can to help this tshooting.

save $1 visit alka-seltzer on facebook. they call themselves newtown united. their mission, to reduce gun violence and preventing other communities to ever having to live their nightmare. i spoke with an organizer, bill toomey along with his daughter, sarah. >> we have learned from folks around the community and around the world that people were deeply touched by what happened here and they do not want these events to go -- to have happened in vain and we should really do whatever we can to lend our voice to the national debate on this issue around gun violence. it's not just about gun control. there are a lot of other issues associated with it. we want to bring people together to really make a difference to make sure we do whatever is necessary to protect our children. >> some of those voices you want to bring together and certainly that need to be heard are voices like your daughter right there, the young people who could be victims in these mass shootings. sierra, good morning to you. your school was on lockdown friday during this shooting at newtown at the elementary there. what c

>>> hello. i'm wolf blitzer. i'm coming to you with live special coverage from newtown, connecticut, the scene of the horrific elementary school massacre. we want to welcome back our viewers in the united states and around the world. we're learning new information about this mass killing here in connecticut and we're learning new information about the people who were killed. 26 people shot inside the elementary school. 20 of them children. at a news conference just a little while ago here in newtown, the connecticut state police said that all of the victims now have been identified. they will be released -- they will be releasing the name shortly. we're told to be standing by. all of the bodies have been removed and they've been taken to the medical examiner's office. crime scene investigators are working around the clock. here's how they are trying to deal with what's going on. investigators say -- they spoke out a few moments ago. >> we still have major crime detectives and newtown detectives working at the scene at the school. that is not completed. that probably will not be comp

the united states and around the world. i'm wolf blitzer reporting live right now from newtown, connecticut. the 20 children gunned down in their own elementary school were 6 and 7 years old. they were practically babies, as the people here in newtown, connecticut, mourn. we now know the names of the victims of the school massacre. authorities releasing the list just a little while ago. we're also learning just how brutally they died. the medical examiner says, every one of the 26 victims were shot more than once, apparently with a semiautomatic. the relatives of the shooter are struggling to competent when the loss of life, including nancy, who was gunned down by her son. no word on a motive. police say they have found very good evidence at the school and at the lanza home. for more right now on the investigation, let's bring in our national correspondent, susan candiotti, here in newtown, connecticut. with all of us, she's working her sources. what's the latest, susan? >> reporter: hi, wolf. of course, the question is what move a 20-year-old young man to target so many innoce

sure there's some sort of infrastructure for when -- in particular, i'm involved with newtown united, a group trying to put together essentially an advocacy infrastructure for when they want to talk. they want to move the conversation. the national conversation to where i think a majority of people in america want it to go, on all matters related to gun violence. it's going to be there for them. and there's so many things like that that are happening, whether it's a memorial for the children and the educators, all that's going to happen. this community is going to rally around and support these people in any direction that they want us to go. >> and outside the community too. lots of support. robert cox writes for reuters "breaking views," and he's also a newtowner. >>> "outfront," next, student hot survived a mass shooting in minnesota seven years ago drive to newtown, connecticut, to be with the sandy hook survivors. we'll tell you what they presented to the staff and students to help them cope. >>> we remember the victims of sandy hook who lost their lives a week ago. people have dou

washington. that means taking on the nra. they call themselves newtown united. their mission, to reduce gun violence and prevent other communities from ever having to live their nightmare. bill toomey helped put together that group. and earlier, i spoke with him today and his daughter, sierra. i asked them if they have made any progress in their talks with politicians on the issue of gun control. >> we had a series of meetings, actually, to try and begin a conversation in the community around what happened and how we can take this terrible tragedy and turn it into something positive. so what we heard from the senators as well as some of our congressional -- the rest of our congressional delegation was that the moment in time is now. that the tide is turning in this country as it relates to gun violence and what we can do about it. and we want to try and bring the community together as quickly as possible to try and lend our voice to the national voice so that we can really make something meaningful happen out of this terrible event. >> and the name of your group is newtown united. but you s

our number one obligation which is to protect our children. >> newtown united is calling for better gun control. the goal is to prevent a similar nightmare from striking another community. we do something now and take some action be proactive. >> some get ready to go back to school on tuesday parents learned about new precautions that will be in place there will be policed and grief counselors present. >> the gun control debate is heating up closer to home, and illinois senator and the governor are all calling for stricter gun control laws. >> it did not take long for gun control advocates to speak up in the state of illinois is an issue for the gun advocates behind me something that strikes at the heart of a constitutional right. the issue of today is we need to ban assault weapons in illinois. >> state democrats were reading off the same script monday reacting to the connecticut school shooting. assault weapons have been used over and over again to kill innocent human beings in our state and elsewhere and we have to do something about it. at rainbow push headquarters denied a vigi

around the world in 15 minutes. our coverage of the newtown, connecticut shooting continues right now. >>> good morning, everyone. i'm john berman. >> i'm kate bolduan. we want to well koom viewers from the united states and those joining us from around the world this morning. you're watching our special coverage of the connecticut school shooting here in newtown. we're live in newtown, connecticut. >> here in newtown the president will be coming later today. he's expected to meet with some of the victims of the families and he will speak at a vigil tonight remembering the victims. president obama spoke about the hea heartbreak hours after the shooting on friday and again during his weekly address yesterday. now, of course, we have the names of all the victims in this shooting. there were 20 children, all of them were just 6 or 7 years old. there's been a fund set up to help the families of the victims. here's the address if you'd like to send a donation, the sandy hook school support fund, 39 main street in newtown, the zip code is 06470. >> meanwhile, investigators here in newtown a

of their friends in this shooting. we also want to pass this along to you. the united way has set up a sandy hook school fund. donations can be sent to the newtown savings bank. the address you see on your screen, newtown savings bank, 39 main street, newtown, connecticut, 06470. we are also hearing from adam lanza's family. both his brother, ryan, and his father have been questioned by police. peter lanza released this statement. "our family is grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy. we are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can. we too, are asking why." we're hearing from adam lanza's aunt which says she's shocked and offers a little insight into why. >> i know she had issues with school. she wound up homeschooling him, because she battled with the school district i'm not sure in what capacity. >> has he acted out? had she shared with you? >> no. >> no violence towards her? >> no. if he did, i know she wouldn't have tolerated it. >> joining us now national correspondent susan candiotti. you have been following this

wounds. >> reporter: bind up their wounds. welcome back to newtown, connecticut, everyone. good morning. we would like to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. you're watching cnn's special coverage of the connecticut school shooting. i'm john berman standing in front of the st. rose of lima catholic church where last night there was a large ceremony to mourn the victims lost. we're awaiting a news conference here at 8:00 a.m. eastern time in connecticut where authorities are expected to release the names of the children and adults killed at the sandy hook elementary school. 26 people killed there, 20 children, 6 adults, the mother of the victim also found dead at a separate location. i want to check in now with nick valencia in the cnn newsroom. one of them, the school principal. nick, what do we know about her? >> good morning, john. as you mentioned, i'm here at the cnn center in atlanta where we're working on gathering the latest information on the victims of this horrible tragedy, the connecticut school shooting. as you mentioned, 47-year-old principal dawn

. >>> breaking news, massacre in newtown, connecticut. i'm ashleigh banfield in for erin burnett. this just in. listen. >> 6-7 muc. sandy hook school. caller thinks someone is shooting in the building. front glass is broken, unsure why. all units, the individual that i have on the phone is continuing to hear what he believes to be gunfire. units responding sandy hook school at this time, the shooting appears to have stopped. the school is in lockdown. >> that broken glass is the result of the gunman reportedly shooting his way into the school. the unthinkable tragedy has left this very small new england town shattered tonight. 28 people dead. that's including the shooter himself. most of those killed were students at the school. very, very young students. there were 20 children killed. between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. there were also 6 adults shot dead after a heavily armed gunman dressed in black fatigues and a military vest opened fire in the school. >> we just told a little boy about his sister now and just to see him, he said who am i going to play with? i have nobody

now. >>> good evening. breaking news. i'm ashleigh banfield in for erin burnett tonight. in newtown, connecticut, it is the scene of one of the worst school shootings in the history of the united states and we can report for you that police have now identified a school shooter as adam lanza. a shooter who killed 26 people today at the sandy hook elementary school here in this small connecticut town. 20 children were killed. 18 of them were pronounced dead right at the scene of the school. two of them were rushed to the hospital, hoping that they could save them. those children died at the hospital. six adults at the school were also shot dead. and they died at the scene as well. nancy lanza, a teacher at the school and a mother of the suspected shooter, was also killed. but she was found dead in her son's home in newtown. adam lanza, the 24-year-old brother ryan lanza, was taken into police custody. ryan lanza taken into police custody for questioning in hoboken, new jersey, earlier today. officials had not labeled him a suspect. but he was taken away in handcuffs. his brother adam

tragedy has visited united states is not evidence of the absence of god. i think, and i'm sure we'll see as days unfold, there will be wonderful expressions of grace in the midst of trageát in newtown, connecticut. people from lot of different back grounds are supporting one another and that's the best of faith. >> how do you approach people who think it's a time that has tested they're faith and challenged their faith, and maybe they are losing faith because they feel an overwhelming sense of grief? >> sure. i would say to them, i would listen to them and i think that those feelings are legitimate, but i would guide them and help them to understand that the best part of our tradition enlarges and deepens our faith in the midst of these occurrences. we talk about the cross in christianity. the cross helps us to understand god is with us amidst sorry and i think that as we go deeper in our faith, we will find grace in the midst of this. >> i want to play this clip. this is the husband of dawn hochsprung, principal at the school who was killed. >> sure. >> i'm not angry anymore. i'm not a

he believes to be gunfire. unit responding to sandy hook school at this time. the shooting appears to have stopped. the school is in lockdown. >> reporter: john berman is also with me in newtown, connecticut. we have our cnn team spread across the city. john, you are at the site of one of several vigils held last night. and this town wakes up this morning to a press conference we are just waiting to begin to get that started where they are going to, we expect, hear the names of those 20 children, six adults. we know two of the adults' names. a principal and the psychologist from the school, but we'll hear a lot more names. and it will send this up to reeling all over again, john. >> reporter: ali, this is the st. rose of lima church behind me where last night there was a vigil. a thousand people were here inside and outside this church to mourn together and grieve together. this town really is going through this as one tight-knit community. i heard bells a short while ago and didn't know why or where they were ringing, but it did give the sense of togetherness that is really permeatin

there's a huge media footprint in newtown right now, but i think the folks understand that we have a job to do and they want the world to see what's going on. it's not just here in connecticut or the united states even. we're being seen around the world -- >> around the world. >> people are reaching out, people are appreciative of what's going on and we're trying to bring that story and maybe we will learn some lessons. maybe i'm overly optimistic. prevent this kind of disaster down the road. >> i think television can help with the healing process at a moment when we have the nation's attention tranfixed on the town that you're in. wolf? >> howie, all right, stand by. i want everyone to stand by. soledad is going to be with us, we're going to continue our coverage. we're waiting, we're waiting for this news conference to take place. connecticut state police are getting ready to brief us on the latest information that they have from this investigation. we'll have live coverage of that more with howie and soledad, when we come back. [ male announcer ] when ziggy the cat appeared at the

now. we're here in newtown, connecticut. we're awaiting word, officials word of the victims, the names of the victims. we want to welcome our viewers not only here in the united states but around the world who are watching. this story certainly has resonated around the world. certainly left with a lot of questions that still need answers this morning. we learning possible, the possible motive of the shooter, the 20-year-old adam lanza. police say they have a good sense of what was going on. they haven't released the information yet. say he killed his mother before the rampage at the school where he then took his own life. cnn's mary snow joining us from outside the lanza home in newtown, connecticut. what have we learn good adam lanza, this 20-year-old man? are we learning more about the motive? the police seem to think they have a pretty good idea of what was going on. >> reporter: yeah, they are picking up information, wolf. and you know, shortly after yesterday's horrific shooting, police were on the scene here at the lanza home where it's believed adam lanza lived with his mo

enforcement in newtown, connecticut. we want to welcome back the viewers in the united states and around the world. this is breaking news. unimaginable horror grips the nation in one of the deadliest school shootings in u.s. history. a tragedy so wrenching it reduced the president of the united states to tears. right now 27 people are confirmed dead in connecticut's sandy hook elementary school massacre. 20 children and six adults and the alleged shooter. all of this happening within a matter of a few hours. watch this. the sights and sounds of this tragedy as it played out. >> when i was getting in my car, i heard sirens going off continuously. car after car after car. some of them were flying past my house and coming around again and going to the school. this house is three houses away from the school. >> when we first arrived, there was not a lot of security to guard. there were three children that came out. one of them had a very bleed face. >> he immediately jumped in the car and headed down here. it's troubling. it was mayhem in the room with the kids and the teachers and trying to

small sandy hook elementary school in newtown, connecticut. the president of the united states will be speaking on this issue at 3:15 p.m. eastern from the white house press briefing room. we'll have live coverage of that. we're also awaiting remarks from the governor of connecticut, dannel malloy. much more coming up. we're following the breaking news, a horrific, horrific story, one of the largest mass killings in a school in the united states, in u.s. history, the story is unfolding right now. if you think running a restaurant is hard, try running four. fortunately we've got ink. it gives us 5x the rewards on our internet, phone charges and cable, plus at office supply stores. rewards we put right back into our business. this is the only thing we've ever wanted to do and ink helps us do it. make your mark with ink from chase. >>> you are looking at images that we are now multiple hours into this horrific, horrific crime that has happened in this small sleepy new england town of newtown, connecticut. at this elementary school, the call came in to 911 around 9:30 this morning, a gu

control in the united states. >> in the wake of a tragedy a nation provides a shoulder for newtown connecticut. this morning we will have more on the outpouring of support going to that small town. all those stories are straight ahead on this tuesday. and thanks for staying with us. i am charley crowson. >> i am megan pringle. let's get to weather because if you are headed out, you should know it's foggy again. here's lynette. >> we have patchy dense fog this morning. not the widespread against fog that we saw yesterday. but a lot of you will

years and years now living in the united states covering newtown, listen to what she had to say about the comparison between those two places. >> i moved back to the u.s. this summer for the last five years, i was living in japan as cnn's tokyo correspondent. in that entire time, i never covered a shooting. there aren't any. this is my third mass shooting i've covered in just six months. i don't have the answer but i can compare japan and the u.s. in japan, there are almost no guns. the average person just can't get one. and i have to tell you, it's the safest place i've ever lived. >> and yet, we can talk about a place that you covered as a journalist, the an toyate killings in norway, 2011, summer camp. 77 people killed most youngsters and norway is a country where it is tough to get a gun. so you can't stop this completely. but people will say if you reduce the number of guns, you'll have fewer of them. here's the thing. this is a country where i can say whatever i want. i can worship any way i want and according to the way the constitution's interpreted i have the same right to ar

from newtown, connecticut. we want to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. right now, police are working around the clock to solve the mystery of why the 20-year-old adam lanza gunned down 20 students and six educators in this small town. we're learning about details from the investigation. our national correspondent, deborah feyerick, has more. >> reporter: wolf, investigators are getting closer. however, they have yet to understand the exact motive. police investigators return to the home of the gunman tuesday. investigators are having a hard time retrieving data from a badly damaged computer found inside the house, according to a law enforcement source, because the hard drive was shattered. not only does it appear adam lanza tried to erase his digital footsteps, he shot the only witness who could have most fully explained what was going on inside him. his mother, nancy, shot four times in the head, as she slept in her bed, likely early friday, the autopsy shows. under the terms of her 2009 divorce agreement, she was the one responsible for paying her son

program to other major cities across the united states. next why the u.s. closed its embassy in central africa and told americans there to evacuate. also ahead this midday. the search for more answers after the school shooting in newtown connecticut. scientists look into what could have motivated the gunman. and, for the second time in a month a person is pushed to their death in front of a new york subway. he is scheduled to make a formal announcement at some point tomorrow. the earlier this month he was arrested at the airport when security inspectors found a gun on his carry-on bag. he claimed he used the gun at his other job with a security company and forgot he packed it. the american embassy in the central african republic is temporarily closed, and american citizens are being told to evacuate the country. rebel forces in the central african republic have seized territory, and are now advancing upon the capital city of bangui. and the state department fears another violent struggle for power. the country's president is pleading with foreign leaders to help him fend off the rebels.

united states found a unique way to honor the victims in newtown. you'll meet him next. wooohooo....hahaahahaha! oh...there you go. wooohooo....hahaahahaha! i'm gonna stand up to her! no you're not. i know. you know ronny folks who save hundreds of dollars switching to geico sure are happy. how happy are they jimmy? happier than a witch in a broom factory. get happy. get geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. to the best vacation sp(all) the gulf! it doesn't matter which of our great states folks visit. mississippi, alabama, louisiana or florida, they're gonna love it. shaul, your alabama hospitality is incredible. thanks, karen. love your mississippi outdoors. i vote for your florida beaches, dawn. bill, this louisiana seafood is delicious. we're having such a great year on the gulf, we've decided to put aside our rivalry. now is the perfect time to visit anyone of our states. the beaches and waters couldn't be more beautiful. take a boat ride, go fishing or just lay in the sun. we've got coastline to explore and wildlife to photograph. and there's world

together, to show that we are together and unit united. we gather in such a moment of heart break for all of us here in newtown. we gather especially mindful of family and friends and neighbors among us who have lost loved ones by an act of unfathomable violence and destruction. we gather to grieve together to care for one another, to pray and embrace, to weep and to remember and to declare in our many voices that these darkest days of our community shall not be the final world heard from us. we will sigh in our sorrows, but we will also care for one another with our love and our compassion. in those early hours of this crisis it became clear to we clergy and faith leaders here in newtown that initial, an initial community response would be needed, that we would need to come together and so, we asked our first select woman and our superintendent if it might be possible for us clergy to invite the community to gather here at newtown high school to continue and to begin and to continue what will be for many a long journey through grief and loss. we are not here to ignore our differences or to diminish the core belie

in newtown, connecticut and countless other communities across the united states, noting each of the people killed at a connecticut elementary school exactly one week ago. in this morning's "wall street journal" peggy noonan tackled question how parents and children go from here. she writes, kids are often afraid of imaginary monsters like ones that supposedly live under their beds. she shares how a friend tolder, quote, what is so terrible for the little kids hear about newtown, that the dream monster is now real. joined by a group of parents, some of whom you will know as political analysts or from other fox news segments but all of whom have young children in a world where now we realize the monster is real. thank you all so much for being here. such a sad day for so many in the country. i know our viewers are feeling it because we were together a week ago exactly right now as we learned that it was in fact 18 or 20 children who had been killed. i feel it and i know you all feel it. and the question is now, a week later and on a go forward basis as parents, as human beings, how ar

think the other one will be as well. today, the senate turns to the confirmation of these two united states district judges. before i address that issue, i express my condolences to the victims and family in newtown, connecticut. as a nation, we join together to express our grief and to offer support and comfort to this community. our thoughts and prayers are with families who have suffered from this senseless act. from time to time, i've given my colleagues an update regarding the facts of judicial confirmations. and despite our steady progress on confirmations, we continue to hear complaints from bar associations, interest groups, editorial boards, and even some fellow senators. of course, these are the same groups that remain silent or at the time cheered on the efforts to block judicial nominees of the previous president. multiple filibusters, failures to hold hearings, pocket filibusters of one sort or another, and other tactics of delay and obstruction were routinely used against prech's nominees. by the end of his presidency, president bush had 53 nominees that were not confir

representative from newtown talking about the community and how it has responded, this new england, small-town. as the president of the united states said, it has been inspirational in terms of how they have dealt with this tragedy. tragedy, from everything from the first responders arriving on the scene to the teachers and administrators and the way that they executed a plan that saved children's lives and those valiant who put themselves in the way of the assassin to save the lives of children. we are resolved in our caucus that the time to act is now and that we know taking no action is to be complicit to a future event. we announce today that we will have a task force that will serve to coordinate all of our efforts. we know that this is a comprehensive issue. we know that it is not just restrictions that need to be placed on guns but also the issues of mental illness, the culture of violence, and youth violence specifically. members of our caucus from carolyn mccarthy to grace napolitano to bobby scott and countless others who have been working on these issues for years, we are going to a

. >>> will the response to newtown be different if the shooter was not white? >>> one movie uniting both sides of the political aisle but why senators are speaking out against "zero dark 30." >>> take a page from the '80s rem song -- ♪ it could be the end of the world as we know it ♪ and some people are getting ready for the worst. >> i'm not planning on the world going away. that sucks. however, i'm a realist. i'm not going to put my head in the sand. >> oh, geez, not everyone is buying into that mayan prophecy. most everyone is not. some people are profiting from it, though. "newsroom" starts now. good morning to you. thank you for being with us. i'm coral costello. in f your holiday plans include traveling through the part of the country, buckle up. blizzard warnings from iowa to wisconsin, the massive storm dumped more than a foot of snow in the rockies and for the eastern half of the country be warned. it is heading your way. winter starts tomorrow but in the heartland it's already arrived with a vengeance. blizzard conditions already pounding parts of the plains and midwest. th

helps to know that we have the support and the love and the sympathy and the thoughts of the united states house of representatives. it will help me to bring back this resolution to the people of newtown and the people of connecticut and very shortly we'll join you and join the in figuring out a way to make sure that within our power this doesn't happen again. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. without objection, the previous question is ordered. without objection, the resolution is agreed to. and the the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair will entertain requests for one-minutes. for what purpose does the gentlelady from hawaii rise? >> permission to address the house for one minute. without objection. ms. matsui: our country joins the people of newtown for their greff and loss and we mourn the sudden passing of our patriot senator inouye of hawaii. senator inouye loved his constituents. our thoughts and prayers with irene, ken, jessica and little maggie. our sympathies to his hard-working sfaff. t

them. the united way announced wednesday a fund established after the shooting to support newtown has grown to a wonderful $3.5 million. >>> toyota has agreed to a $1 billion legal settlement, one of the largest in history, after deadly crashes involving toyotas with unintended acceleration. 16 million drivers filed a class action lawsuit against toyota. this morning, the settlement is a step closer to being a done deal. toyota agreed to fix 3 million cars to make them safer and even cover the cost of depreciation. a judge must sign off on that legal settlement though. >>> and now for the first time ever. i have to say, i've been practicing this, getting ready for this moment all week. this is like when they announce your name and you have to say that one important thing. here it is. our "favorite story of the day." comes to us from far eastern russia. we needed a sound effect. >> there it is. the stamp of approval. >> there we go. i like it. >> you have to see this. these adorable bear cubs are being cared for by forestry officials. they are both 3 months old. it's believed their mot

murphy, senator-elect and the current representative from newtown talking about the community and how it is responded, this quintessential new england small town as the president of the united states has said has been inspirational in terms of how they have dealt with this tragedy, from everything from the first responders arriving on the scene to the teachers and administrators and the way that they executed a plan that saved children's lives and those valiant who put themselves in the way of the assassin to save the lives of children. we are resolved in our caucus that the time to act is now and that we know taking no action is to be complicit to a future event. we announce today that we will have a task force that will serve to coordinate all of our efforts. we know that this is a comprehensive issue. we know that it is not just restrictions that need to be placed on guns but also the issues of mental illness, the culture of violence, and youth violence specifically. members of our caucus from carolyn mccarthy to grace napolitano to bobby scott and countless others who have been wo